Weekend Vulnerability and Patch Report, February 4, 2018

Weekend Vulnerability and Patch Report, February 4, 2018

Important Security Updates

7-Zip: 7-Zip.org has released version 18.01 (32-bit and 64-bit). Updates are available from 7-Zip’s website.

Avira Antivirus: Avira has released version 15.0.34.20 of its free Antivirus. Updates are available from Avira’s website.

Google Chrome: Google has released Google Chrome version 64.0.3282.140. Updates are available from within the browser or from Google Chrome’s website.

Microsoft Windows: Microsoft has released a new Windows patch to disable Intel’s hardware-based mitigation for the Spectre attack due to bugs introduced by Intel’s mitigation. The update is currently offered only as an out-of-band update that must be manually downloaded and installed, and it has no effect other than to disable the use of this particular Spectre mitigation. More information is available from Microsoft.

Mozilla Firefox: Mozilla has released version 58.0.1. Updates are available within the browser or from Mozilla’s website.

Spotify: Spotify has released version 1.0.73.345. Updates are available on Spotify’s website.

Viber: Viber has released version 8.0.0.4 for Windows. Updates are available on Viber’s website.

Current Software Versions

Adobe Flash Player 28.0.0.137

Adobe Reader DC 2018.009.20044

Dropbox 42.4.114 [Citadel warns against relying on security of Dropbox or other cloud-based file exchange systems. We recommend files containing sensitive information be independently encrypted with a program like Axcrypt; encryption keys be at least 15 characters long; and the master Dropbox [or other] password be at least 15 characters long and different from other passwords.]

Firefox 58.0.1 [Windows]

Google Chrome 64.0.3282.140

Internet Explorer 11.0.49

Java SE 8 Update 161 [Citadel recommends removing or disabling Java from your browser. Java is a major source of cyber criminal exploits. It is not needed for most internet browsing. If you have a particular web site that requires Java, Citadel recommends using a two-browser approach to minimize risk. If you normally browse the Web with Firefox, for example, disable the Java plugin in Firefox and use an alternative browser — such as Chrome, IE9, Safari, etc — with Java enabled to browse only the sites that require it.]

Microsoft Edge 41.16299.15.0

QuickTime 7.7.9 [Citadel recommends removing QuickTime. On April 14, 2016 US-CERT advised Microsoft Windows users to remove QuickTime. This followed a report in ars technica that Apple has no plans to update the Windows app despite at least two reliable QuickTime vulnerabilities that threaten Windows users who still have the program installed.]

Safari 11.0 [Mac OS X Mavericks, Yosemite, El Capitan]

Skype 8.13.0.3

For Your IT Department

Cisco Multiple Products: Cisco has released updates for IOS, IOS XR and IOS XE, Aggregation Services Router 9000 Series, Adaptive Security Appliance, CPU-Side Channel Information, and others. Apply updates. Additional details are available on Cisco’s website.

Oracle Multiple Systems: Oracle has released an update to patch a critical vulnerability in their POS systems along with patches for several other systems. Additional details are available from Oracle.

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If you are responsible for the security of your computer, Citadel’s Weekend Vulnerability and Patch Report is for you. We strongly urge you to take action to keep your system(s) patched and updated.

If someone else is responsible for the security of your computer, forward our Weekend Vulnerability and Patch Report to them and follow up to make sure your computer has been patched and updated.

Vulnerability management is a key element of cyber security management. Cyber criminals take over user computers by writing computer programs that “exploit” vulnerabilities in operating systems (Windows, Apple OS, etc) and application programs (Adobe Acrobat, Office, Flash, Java, etc). When software companies find a vulnerability, they usually issue an update patch to fix the code running in their customer’s computers.

Citadel publishes our Weekend Vulnerability and Patch Report to alert readers to some of the week’s important updates and vulnerabilities. Our focus is on software typically found in the small or home office (SOHO) or that users are likely to have on their home computer. The report is not intended to be a thorough listing of updates and vulnerabilities.

Copyright © 2018 Citadel Information Group. All rights reserved.

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